It is surprising that many well-known impressionist painters used still raw photos to create their artworks. They added colors and their vision to the original raw photograph, changed proportions and saved money because they didn’t have to pay art models any more. The results were amazing. For example, Edgar Degas used 3 raw photos to create his famous Ballet Dancers. Other artists followed Degas’ idea and also started to use photographs while painting their masterpieces.

Some of these painting suck, seriously, why they are famous is beyond me, especially the last one. The final product looks nothing like the photograph, if the intent is to actually make a portrait of the photographed person.

The only good example is the first one and the old lady, in which the painting looks better and even has more detail than the actual photo.